Who doesn't like to hear about the MDP every now and then? I have had mine for several years now and there are a few quirks with the lens and I am looking for similar experiences from others.

Quirk One: Parts of the barrel seem loose, in that there seems to be some free play between the sections, both in a twisting motion and pulling.

Quirk Two: Every now and then, it will seem that I have focused on something, a flower for example, there is not a focus confirmation from the camera and a picture can not be taken. I am not too close, it would seem to be contrasty enough and it looks in focus, but no response. If I stop and focus on something else, all is great. But back to the flower, nothing. One shot AF used, Aperture Priority, if that helps.

I have had this experience on a 1n, T1i and now my 7d.

Also is does go frantic trying to get focus sometimes, but I have heard that is common.

Thanks for the help. Me Gusta the lens a lot, but also at time wish for a little faster/better AF, but really, how many zooms should one person have?

Amigo, the anomalies you mention are not common, at least not in my experience.
The Pipe was very well designed, engineered and built, with a specific objective of satisfying the demands of professional photographers at the time. However, many copies of the lens available today have been used a lot, and some require service where possible.

point 1 - no play here either. It rattles a bit, and I stupidly snapped the focus switch off a couple of years back, but someone local stuck a new one on - it looks a bit different but works fine. Phew.
point 2 - not sure how this could happen. Is it set on the 'closer' focus setting on the barrel?

the rubber of the focus and zoom rings on mine have got a bit 'baggy' too, so it looks a bit odd but works just fine

point 2 - not sure how this could happen. Is it set on the 'closer' focus setting on the barrel?

Good point. It's only been a few days since I used my pipe and already I forgot about the limiter switch

The lens good be set to long distance or its set to min of 1.8 m then maybe the limiter switch has not engaged properly.
I tend to leave mine set to 1.8m as much as possible . That way if I get it out of the bag and the switch has either broken or just don't work any more it should still have full use.
Not sure what I would do if mine got stuck in 6.5m min or MF . It would be a very sad day

Ian.Dobinson wrote:
Not sure what I would do if mine got stuck in 6.5m min or MF . It would be a very sad day

mine was fixed via campkins in cambridge. I dont like them, they seem unbelievably snobbish, but they do know people who can do stuff.. they sent it off and it came back with a new switch fitted. (they fixed my 17-40 when I dropped it on a rock too )

Thank you all for the input. I have had the lens for almost 10 years, and it was my first big lens purchase. I think I forked over $500 then.

I do want to keep this lens and hopefully bring it back to all its glory. Mind you, it still is fully functional and delivers majority of the time. Good thing my old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools, I can fix this.

I bought my MDP on ebay from Japan about 2 years ago. When it arrived it looked as though it had never been used. And everything is tight & smooth. Use it all the time on a 1D4. The second 1D4 has a base-modified EF-S 10-22 & they both mount on a Black Rapid double strap.

My pipe was also loose between sections and it's seen plenty of use. I sent it off to Midstate Camera and they went in and replaced some screws I believe, but it came back nice and tight.

I should clarify, the sections with the play were near the lens mount of the lens, not the top section closest to the front element. I was told there isn't much they can do to tighten the section near the front element but the lower sections can be tightened.